Material handling apparatus



p 19 5 H. L. HUSSQN Em 2,384,307

- MATERIAL HANDLING APPARATUS Fiied Oct. 30,1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I fi/ v I I I F/G. I

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E8 m emu-QM A 1 AZTORNL'Y v sept' 1945' H.- L. HUSSON'ETAL MATERIAL HANDLING AE'PARATUS Filed Oct. so, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 H L. HUSSON RR. POLL/1RD v A T TORNEV Wyn/Toes.-

Patented Sept. 4, 1945 MATERIAL HANDLING APPARATUS Harry L. Husson, Westfield, and Robert R. Pollard, East Orange, N. J., assignors to Western Electric Company, Incorporated, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application October 30, 1943, Serial No. 508,430

7 Claims.

This invention relates to material handling apparatus, and more particularly to a grapple for conveying large smooth-surfaced articles.

An object of the invention is to provide a material handling apparatus which is particularly adaptable for conveying smooth-surfaced articles.

With this and other objects in view, the invention comprises a trunnion carrying band adapted to encircle an article and be attached thereto, the trunnions being positioned for removable locking engagement with depending arms carried by an element adapted for engagement with a hoisting apparatus.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. l is a. front elevational view of the apparatus illustrating the band attached to an article, with the arms positioned outwardly ready for engagement with the trunnions on the band;

Fig, 2is a bottom plan view of the band shown in locked position on the article;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a portion of the apparatus illustrating the connection between one of the arms and its respective trunnion of the locking band;

Fig, 4 is a fragmentary top plan view of the locking means for the band shown in solid lines in locked position and in dot and dash lines in unlocked position;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the locking means taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the apparatus illustrating the different positions, in which the article may be conveyed, or, into which it may be moved while being conveyed, and

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 'l-'l of Fig. 1.

This apparatus is the solution to a problem of conveying large and heavy smooth-surfaced cylindrical articles during the manufacture thereof. To successfully convey an article as indicated at H) it is necessary to first provide the article with projecting means to which hoisting means may be connected; thus the provision of the locking band indicated generally at H. The locking band is provided with two semi-circular members l4 and I5 hinged together at I 6 and provided with friction lining members or material I 1. This material may be of any desired structure, for example, any commercially known brake lining material capable of establishing a gripping or holding force between the band members l4 and I5,

to which they are attached, and the article H], into engagement with the outer surface of which they are forced through the aid of a locking means indicated generally at 18.

By viewing Figs. 4 and 5 in connection with Fig. 2, it will be noted that the member l4 adjacent the forward or locking end is provided with a pair of spaced notched ears 20 adapted to receive, in the notches thereof, reduced ends 2| of a latch or locking element 22. The locking element 22 has an integral threaded portion 23 projecting at right angles from the center thereof for adjustable threaded engagement with a supporting member 24, A threaded aperture 25 of the member 24 receives the threaded portion 23, and through the aid of a lock nut 26, the member and element may be held togetherat any desired adjusted position. The member 24 is pivotally supported at 21 in a yoke 28 of a locking lever 29. Spaced ears 30 on the member l5 support pivot rods 3| in aligned apertures therein, the rods providing a pivotal support for the yoke 28 by passing through aligned apertures therein spaced from the pivot 21. The locking lever 29 is of i the angular contour shown and is adapted to be held in locked position by a retaining element 33. The element 33 is pivotally supported at 34 upon the member l5 movable from the dot and dash line position into the solid line position shown in Fig. 2, to extend around the end of the lever 29 and hold the latter against accidental movement into open position.

Trunnions 36 and 31, through the aid of intermediate spacing members 38 and 39, are fixed at diametrically opposed positions upon their respective member I4 and I5. It will be noted that a conical outer portion 40 of each of the trunnions and truncated cone inner portions 4| are joined by edges 42, to eliminate accidental connection of the hereinafter described arms other than at the reduced inner portions of the trunnions. The trunnion 36 is provided with a stop or locating plate 44, while a locating plate is provided for the trunnion 31. The locating plate 45 is of the contour shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 6, having laterally projecting stop portions 41 and latch receiving notches 48 and 49 in the arcuate outer surface thereof.

To complete the apparatus, arms 5!] and 5| are provided and pivotally supported at 52, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 7, at the ends of a spreader bar 53. The spreader bar 53 is apertured at 54 for connection with a hook 555 or other suitable structure of a hoisting apparatus notshown.

The upper portions of the arms and 5! are The I general contours of the members are shown in Fig. 3. Here the member 60 is of suflicient width I 1 for a trunnion receiving aperture 66, the latter having a wide upper portion 61 anda narrow lower portion 68 with intermediate'angularly prof" jecting portions 69. The'portions 69 have knifelike edges 10 to eliminate the possibility of the heads or outer portions of the trunnions from. resting thereon accidentally during the connec-,

tion of the arms with the trunnions.

To demonstrate the function or operation of the apparatus, let it be assumed that the article I9 is resting upon the floor or any other suitable support, and that it is; desirable to convey this article to another position. The locking :band is first attached to the article. This is accomplished by spreading the then unlocked members i4 and I5 about their hinge I6 until they may be brought about the article near the center thereof, after which the element 22 is positioned with its reduced ends 2| disposedin the notches of the ears with the lever 29 in the open position shown in dot and dash lines in Fig. 4. The lever may then be moved into locking position and through the off-center arrangement of the pivots 27 and 3l,the members M and I5 of the locking b'and H are brought into gripping engagement with thearticle, this gripping engagement existing through the friction members I1. Furthermore, thelocking means I8 is self-locking by the movement of the pivot 2'! beyond the dead' centers of the pivot 3| and the ends 2| of the element 22. The arms 56 and 5| are then lowered to position the apertures'fifi of the members 59: and 60 thereof in general alignment with the trunnions 36 and 37. At this time the arms maybe moved inwardly for engagement with the trunnions aided by theconical ends 49 of the latter, after which the arms arev raised to cause the: trunnions to lie in the reduced portions 68 of the apertures 66. 5,.

Through the raisingof the arm the angular portions 69 of the apertures assist-in guiding the relative movement of the arms and trunnions. When this hasibeen accomplished the latch 62 may be swung about its pivot through the aperture or notch 6| and into the notch 49 of the plate 45.

The apparatus is now ready to transport the article to another position and through the aid of hoising apparatus this may be accomplished. When the article reaches its destination, if the operator chooses to deposit the article in a horizontal rather than a vertical position, this may be accomplished by releasing the latch 62 from the notch 49 and moving the article about the trunnions, acting as pinions, from the solid line position shown in Fig. 6 to the dot and dash line position shown therein. At this time the latch 62 may be moved into the notch 48 and the article thus locked in its horizontal position. It is apparent that the reverse of this procedure may be similarly accomplished, that is, the movement of the article from a-horizontal position to vertical position. When the article is lowered upon suitable supports, the arms may continue in their downward movement to bring the large portions 6'! of the apertures 66 into registration with the trunnions for removal of the arms. The locking band I I may then be removed from the article by first moving th retaining element 33 to the dotted line position (Fig. 2) and moving the looking lever 29 into the dot and dash line position shown in Fig. 6.

With this apparatus, regardless of the size and weight of the article, the smooth external surface thereof may be protected against harm and means may be positively connected thereto for the transportation of the article to different locations and into various positions.

Although specific improvements of the invention have been shown and described, it will be understood that they are but illustrative and that various modifications may be made therein without departing from the scope and spirit of this vention as defined by the appended claims.

, What is claimed is: Y

g 1. An article handling apparatus comprising a locking band adapted for frictional gripping engagement with acylindrical article, spaced projectons carried by the locking band, arms adapted for interfitting engagement with the projections, means, adapted for connection with a transporting means, supporting the arms, and'interconnectible means carried by the band and one of the arms to hold the article in a selected one of a plurality of positions.

2. An article handling apparatus comprising an element adapted to grip a smooth-surfaced article, spaced projections on the element, arms adapted for interfitting engagement with the projections, means, adapted for connection with a transporting means, supporting the arms, and interconnectible means respectively carried by the element'and one of the arms to hold the article in a selected one of a plurality of positions.

3. An'article handling apparatus comprising an element adapted togrip a smooth-surfaced article, spaced trunnions mounted on the ole ment, arms adapted for interfitting engagement with the trunnions and for supporting 'thetrunnions for rotary movement with the element and article, means, 'adaptedfor connection with a transporting means, supporting the arms, and means tolatch the trunnions and element 'with the article in any selected one o'fa plurality of positions relative to the arms.

'4. An article handling apparatus comprising an'element' adapted to grip a smooth s'urfaced article, spaced trunnions mounted on the element, armsadapted for interfitting engagement with the trunnions and for supporting the trunnions for rotary movement with th'eelement and article, means,adapted for connection with a transporting means, supporting the arms, means to limit the rotary movement of the trunnions, element and article, and means to latch the trunnions and element-with the article in any one of a plurality of positions.

-5.-An article handling apparatus comprising a' locking band including pivotally connected por tions-with frictional lining members extending over" the inner surfaces of the said portions'and fixed "thereto, means to move the said portions about their pivotal connection to force the said members into gripping engagement with a cylindrical' articlejspaced' trunnions carried by the locking band and having head portions with surfaces tapering inwardly from edges, and lifting arms adapted for removable engagement withthe trunnions and having knife-like edge portions cooperating with the said edges or the trunnions to assure positive engagement of the arms and trunnions.

6. An article handling apparatus comprising a locking band adapted for frictional gripping engagement with a cylindrical article, spaced trunnions carried by the locking band and having head portions with surfaces tapering inwardly from edges, and lifting arms adapted for 7. An article handling apparatus comprising a locking band adapted for frictional gripping engagement with a, cylindrical article, spaced trunnions carried by the locking band and each having conical-like surfaces meeting at a circular edge, and lifting arms adapted for removable engagement with the trunnions and having knifelike edge portions cooperating with the said edges of the trunnions to assure positive engagement of removable engagement with the trunnions and 10 the arms and trunnions.

having knife-like edge portions cooperating with the said edges of the trunnions to assure positive engagement of the arms and trunnions.

HARRY L. HUSSON. ROBERT R. POLLARD. 

